Abstract: A technique determines a quality of an electronic game based at least in part on the time spent by a game developer to design the electronic game. While operating a game development tool during the design of the game, the number of actions taken using the game development tool are counted for a plurality of time frames. If the number of actions for any particular time frame meet a threshold number of actions, then a duration of that time frame is added to a value of a total developer time for the electronic game. Other time frames, in which the number of actions fails to meet the threshold, do not have their time frame durations added to the value of the total developer time. A higher quality rating corresponds to longer total developer time.

Abstract: A method to determine a canonical title. The method includes identifying an original title for an original game. The method further includes removing from respective titles for a plurality of other games at least one of punctuation, one or more special characters, and emojis to determine corresponding canonical titles. The method further includes identifying a subset of canonical titles from the corresponding canonical titles that exceed a threshold similarity as compared to the original title. The method further includes associating an original history associated with the original game with the subset of canonical titles.

Abstract: The camera view of an avatar traversing in a three-dimensional (3D) world in an electronic game may be changed to avoid occlusion of the avatar by a graphical object that in the camera view. The camera view may be moved forward towards the avatar to avoid the occlusion, and the camera view may then be moved backward away from the avatar after the avatar has passed the graphical object. Graphical objects that do not significantly occlude the avatar in the camera view may not trigger a change in the camera view.

Abstract: Some implementations relate detection of malicious games. In some implementations, a computer-implemented method includes obtaining a list of games that includes a plurality of games, analyzing the plurality of games to identify at least one likely malicious game, and creating a ticket.

Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a method that includes storing, in a collaboration platform, a first geographic location and a first time of a first authentication request for an account at the collaboration platform responsive to successful authentication of the first authentication request. The method includes receiving a second authentication request for the account at the collaboration platform. The method includes identifying a second geographic location and a second time of the second authentication request. The method includes providing access to the account responsive to a determination that a difference in time between the first time and the second time is large enough that a user of the account is able to travel a difference in distance between the first geographic location and the second geographic location within the difference in time.

Abstract: A method and system is provided to create animated faces using texture manipulation. A face template is provided to enable a user to define features of the face. A composite face is created from multiple layers that include a bottom layer, an animation layer, and a static layer. The composite face is animated by selectively animating one or more of the layers.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for predictive preloading of game data are described. In some implementations, a method can include using a machine learning model of player cohort behavior to predict which games (or game-related data assets) to begin preloading prior to a user making a game selection. Once the user makes a selection, any preloading not related to the selection can be terminated. Thus, during the time period when the user is viewing available game selections, a given number of selections can begin to be preloaded based on predictions from the machine learning model. The preloading can help reduce latency from game selection by the user to game start time.

Abstract: A system and method identifies activity data that is related to activity of a plurality of users of a gaming platform. The activity data is used by the gaming platform to perform a gaming process. The system and method identifies first data of the activity data based on a first characteristic. The first data is a subset of the activity data. The system and method determines a number of times that the first data of the activity data meets a first condition. The system and method responsive to determining that the number of times that the first data of the activity data meets the first condition satisfies a first threshold, modifies the activity data by removing the first data from the activity data. The system and method performs the gaming process using the modified activity data.

Abstract: A system and method that identifies a search term used in search queries of a collaboration platform is disclosed. The system and method obtain historical data associated with the search term. The historical data includes first data indicative of a number of times a content item has been returned in search results responsive to the search queries using the search term. The historical data includes second data indicative of a number of times the content item was selected from the search results and interacted with by users for a threshold amount of time. The system and method generate a score for the search term based on the historical data, wherein the score is associated with the search term and the content item.

Abstract: Some implementations relate to modification and display of game characters. In some implementations, a computer-implemented method to update a displayed character includes providing a user interface with endpoints, an input area enclosed by a plurality of lines, and a preview area that includes the displayed character. Each endpoint is associated with a corresponding type of character. Each line of the plurality of lines connects two adjacent endpoints. The method further includes receiving user input that is indicative of a particular position within the input area, in response to receiving the user input, determining a size of one or more body parts of the displayed character based on the position, and updating the displayed character in the preview area based on the determined size of the one or more body parts of the displayed character.

Abstract: A system and method includes increasing processing efficiency of small files. The method includes generating a file including a plurality of file identifiers that identify a plurality of files in a file system. The method includes causing an execution of a map operation based on the file. The map operation distributes the plurality of file identifiers in a plurality of groups across a plurality of nodes of a computer cluster. The method includes causing an execution of a reduce operation on the plurality of groups of the plurality of file identifiers by the plurality of nodes of the computer cluster. The reduce operation for a first group of the plurality of groups includes reading data of first files of the plurality of files from the file system based on the first group of file identifiers and merging the data of the first files into an output file.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed that provides search with improved discoverability within an online gaming platform.

Abstract: A method and system hosts a game on a collaboration platform to allow playing users to participate in gameplay of the game. The method and system identify a condition of the game that is specified by the creating user of the game and identifies first social interaction criteria for the plurality of playing user. Satisfaction of the condition qualities at least one of the playing users to receive a friend request. The method and system determine that a first social interaction between a first playing user and a second playing user of the plurality of playing users playing the game satisfies the condition of the game. The method and system send the friend request to a first client device of the first playing user inviting the first playing user to establish a friendship with the second playing user on the collaboration platform.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting a first copy of a committed version of source code to a first client device and a second copy of the committed version of the source code to a second client device and receiving, from the first client device, a selection of a presentation type that specifies access privileges to changes made by a first user associated with the first client device to the first copy of the committed version. The method further includes receiving, from the first client device, first changes to a part of the source code of the first copy of the committed version and transmitting the first changes and instructions for real-time presentation of the first changes in accordance with the selected presentation type. The method further includes storing the first changes in a first record of changes that is associated with a first user of the first client device.

Abstract: A system has a computerized game server with a processor coupled to a data repository, the server executing software on the processor, serving video games to a player operating a computerized appliance having a display screen, the computerized appliance coupled to the computerized server over a wide area network (WAN), and providing interactive interfaces enabling interaction between the system and players, and a sensory presentation comprising one or both of audio and images accessible to the player, the sensory presentation including an artifact hidden in one or more of the images, or in the audio in the sensory presentation. The player finds the artifact hidden in the sensory presentation, communicates the act of finding the artifact and circumstances of the act to the computerized game server, where the game server provides a predetermined reward to the player for the act of finding the artifact.

Abstract: Some implementations relate to modification and display of game characters. In some implementations, a computer-implemented method to update a displayed character includes providing a user interface with endpoints, an input area enclosed by a plurality of lines, and a preview area that includes the displayed character. Each endpoint is associated with a corresponding type of character. Each line of the plurality of lines connects two adjacent endpoints. The method further includes receiving user input that is indicative of a particular position within the input area, in response to receiving the user input, determining a size of one or more body parts of the displayed character based on the position, and updating the displayed character in the preview area based on the determined size of the one or more body parts of the displayed character.

Abstract: A system for rating user-generated content (UGC), has a network-connected server hosted by an enterprise, enabling registered participants to select UGC from a network-connected repository, the content then presented to the selecting participants. A a data repository is coupled to the network-connected server, storing profile information regarding individual ones of the registered participants, and rating software executes on the network-connected server, providing functionality for creating age-appropriate rating for individual ones of the UGC.

Abstract: A method and system hosts a game on a collaboration platform to allow playing users to participate in gameplay of the game. The method and system identify a condition of the game that is specified by the creating user of the game and identifies first social interaction criteria for the plurality of playing user. Satisfaction of the condition qualities at least one of the playing users to receive a friend request. The method and system determine that a first social interaction between a first playing user and a second playing user of the plurality of playing users playing the game satisfies the condition of the game. The method and system send the friend request to a first client device of the first playing user inviting the first playing user to establish a friendship with the second playing user on the collaboration platform.

Abstract: A system incorporates a managing server executing software on a processor, game servers serving video games, a plurality of network-connected mobile computerized appliances in use by persons to play games served by the game servers; and software executing on processors of the computerized appliances. Software at the computerized appliances provides interactive interfaces, enabling a first player launch a chat session through the managing server with one or more other players, enabling any one of the players in a chat session to associate a game served by one of the one or more game servers with the chat session, and enabling players in the chat session to enter the game associated with the chat session, and to leave the game and return to the chat session.

Abstract: A system and method receiving, from a first client device associated with a first user of a collaboration platform, a first request to establish friendship with other users of the collaboration platform that are in physical proximity with the first user. The method includes determining, by a processing device, whether a second user of the collaboration platform is in the physical proximity of the first user by comparing a first indicator of physical proximity associated with the first user with a second indicator of physical proximity associated with the second user. The method also includes responsive to determining the second user of the collaboration platform is in the physical proximity of the first user based on the comparison, sending to the first user an invitation to request a friendship with the second user.